Praise for Railroads in the Old South:
“Aaron W. Marrs has written an important, useful, and timely book for southern and business history. His account leads us to reconsider not only the importance of railroads in the region but also the dynamic character of the South’s economy and society. Marrs’s narrative is crisp, clear, and informative.”
— William G. Thomas, Journal of American History
“Marrs has produced important interpretations that antebellum historians will have to include in their generalizations about pre-Civil War southern society.”
— James L. Huston, American Historical Review
“Driv[es] a nail into the coffin of southern exceptionalism.”
— Angela Lakwete, Journal of the Early Republic
“Railroads in the Old South is a solid contribution to our understanding of the birth of American railroading. There is much that is fresh and fascinating in each chapter. … This book should be of interest to every serious student of railroad history, and even casual readers will find the text accessible and informative.”
— Theodore Kornweibel, Jr., Railroad History
“Marrs’s book is bristling with keen observations and perceptive insights. … [T]his book is a winning accomplishment that deserves a wide audience.”
— Eric Morser, Business History Review
“Interesting regional history … It is a thoughtful and instructive study that examines not only the pervasiveness of transportation but also some of the social, political, and economic consequences associated with the evolution of southern railroads.”
— T. E. Sullivan, Choice
“This well-researched and readable volume is the best single study of railroads in the South before the Civil War. It should be of interest to historians as well as the general public.”
— James W. Ely, Jr., Virginia Magazine of History and Biography
“Readers will find Railroads in the Old South an informative and lively social history.”
— Mark Aldrich, Technology and Culture
“Marrs’s broad perspective and eye for detail have produced an outstanding overview of not just the Southern but the American experience with railroads during the antebellum era. Anyone interested in the history of railroads, technology, or the South will find this volume worthwhile.”
— Robert G. Angevine, Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
“Marrs has given Civil War scholars some critical issues to consider when they evaluate the conflict’s impact on railroads and the railroad’s impact on the conflict.”
— Robert C. Kenzer, Civil War Book Review
“One would be hard-pressed to come up with a more intelligent and satisfying treatment of the subject than Railroads in the Old South.”
— Paul F. Paskoff, Louisiana History
From the back cover:
“The time is right to bring the South into the story of the economic transformation of antebellum America. Aaron Marrs does this with force and grace in Railroads in the Old South.”
— John L. Larson, Purdue University
“I am hard pressed to think of another volume that better catches the overall effect railroads had on the Old South.”
— Kenneth W. Noe, Auburn University